The Charge d’ Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young, has applauded the Edo State Government’s unrelenting and well-articulated efforts in creating jobs for youths as well as initiatives to curb human trafficking and illegal migration in the state. Young, who made the submission during a courtesy visit to the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State, commended the state government’s efforts to create jobs and opportunities for youths in the state, noting, “We are here to talk about your plans to revitalise the economy and create jobs and opportunities for young people.”
The US diplomat said the state government through the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT) is working tirelessly to combat trafficking in persons, applauding “the excellent effort and steps taken in Edo by the inter-agency task-force to arrest the menace. It is commendable that the state government signed the anti-human trafficking law and set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking. We salute the Taskforce. We also commend the anti-trafficking law which moves to codify prosecution for those involved in trafficking in persons.”
He added that the delegation is in the state to explore areas in which it can provide support to the government to prevent young people from falling victims of human traffickers. Young also praised the collaboration between the state government and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), stating: “We commend the information sharing and coordination on prosecution with NAPTIP in the fight against trafficking in persons which are in line with the three P’s strategy of Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, to move against trafficking, a horrific crime with adverse effect on young people.”
On his part, the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, noted that the state government realised that “the only way we to move the state forward is to keep the youth engage.” Shaibu blamed human trafficking on bad governance in the past which caused the people to lose hope in the country, noting that the state government is changing the narrative with its economic reforms and skills development programmes, such as EdoJobs. He said EdoJobs provides job opportunities for youths through capacity building, equipping them with in-demand employability skills for gainful employment as well as empowerment programmes and training to make them successful entrepreneurs. Shaibu added that youths are engaged in agricultural activities, and also in the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme to help in intelligence gathering for security agencies in the state.
